James Brown Biography, Photos and Posters

James Brown

Biography

Born: May 3, 1933
City and Country of Origin: Barnwell, South Carolina
Music Background:
Awards: Grammy 1991 Best Album Notes, Star Time; 1986 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, "Living In America;" 1965 Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag"
Top Recordings: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Ain't That a Groove," "Cold Sweat," "I Got The Feelin'," "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud," "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose," "Mother Popcorn (You Got To Have A Mother For Me)," "Super Bad," "Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants)," "Make It Funky," "Get On The Good Foot," Talking Loud And Saying Nothing," "Papa Don't Take No Mess," "The Payback,"
James Brown Biography: One of the most influential figures in modern music. He has been a prolific singer, songwriter, bandleader and record producer in numerous musical genres. Born during the depression his family moved to nearby Augusta, Georgia where James worked in the nearby cotton fields and shined shoes to help support the family. As a youth he honed his skills as an entertainer, but even then he had his problems with the law serving time at a juvenile detention center in Toccoa for armed robbery. After serving only 3 years he was released on the condition he stay away from Augusta. He first tried his hand at boxing and then as a baseball pitcher, but when he suffered a leg injury he turned to music.

Brown began his amazing career in 1953 and skyrocketed to fame by the late 50s and early 60s with his dazzling stage performances and a string of hit records. Brown started his career by joining his fellow former inmate Bobby Byrd's group the Avons. The group now known as The Famous Flames toured the SOuth finally landing a recording contract with Cincinnati, Ohio based King Records. The groups first recording "Please, Please, Please" in 1956 failed to make the U.S. to 100, but peaked at number 5 on the R&B charts selling over 1 million copies. Their next 9 recordings failed to live up to their first effort and the label was ready to drop Brown and The Flames when the 1958 single "Try Me" hit the topof the R&B charts and number 50 on the national charts. Nearly all of the songs were penned by Brown who had taken control of the band and began billing himself as a solo act backed up by The Flames. Most of the early work was straight forward gospel inspired R&B compositions fashioned after the work of artists like Little Richard and Ray Charles. 1961's "Night Trai" became the first recording to exhibit what would become the James Brown signature sound.

James Bown's early recordings were hits in the southern states, as well as the R&B charts, but nationally he was still an unknown commodity. That was until his self financed live show Live at the Apollo in 1963 was released on record. This led to a string of hit singles that defined the funk sound. James Brown's 1965 recordings "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)," both were major number 1 R&B hits and represented his first top 10 entries. "Cold Sweat" released in 1967 would prove to be an even harder hitting recording than

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." During the 60s Brown also recorded ballads like "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" in 1965. Most of Brown's musicians came up through the jazz world and it was this blend of the simplicity of R&B with the complexities of jazz that gave Brown's work that distinctive character.

Although Brown had numerous hit singles during his career this success did not transfer into his album recordings. Brown's singing style which he further refined throughout the 60s is a cross between rhythmic singing, with ocassional grunts thrown in for effect, and rap often repeating lyrics over and over to the beat. As the 60s drew to a close Brown refined his style even further with songs like "I Got the Feelin'" and "Licking Stick-Licking Stick" in 1968 and "Funky Drummer" in 69. His work influenced many other pop acts like Sly and the Family Stone, Booker T. and the M.G.s and the pre-adolescent Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. Brown also contributed social commentary on a black person's palce in society with songs like "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" in 68 and I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)" in 1970.

By the 70s most of his origianl band had quit and Brown emplyed new artists like bassist Bootsy Collins and his brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins. As his wealth and fame grew Brown bought radio stations including Augusta, Georgia's WRDW where he shined shoes as a boy and was later banished from town. In 1970 he signed a new recording contract with Polydor Records for whom his first recording was the #1 R&B hit "Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants)." The decade brought another slew of hits for his new label including The Payback" (1973); "Papa Don't Take No Mess" and "Stoned to the Bone" (1974); "Funky President (People It's Bad)" (1975); and "Get Up Offa That Thing" (1976). By the mid 70 his status began to wane as he tried his hand at the new disco craze with songs albums like Get Up Offa That Thing and Bodyheat.

The 80s brought a resurgence in his music fortunes with appearances in films like The Blues Brothers, Doctor Detroit, and Rocky IV, as well as a guest appearance on Miami Vice in 1988. He also released the crossover album Gravity featuring the hit single "Living in America." During this time Brown ran into a series of legal and financial problems. He was arrested after a high speed chase down interstate 20 in Augusta and threatening a pedestrain with a firearm for which he served 3 years in prison. Brown was married 4 times and his wife Adrienne Rodriegues had him arrested 4 times on charges of of assault. During the 90s his arrests for domestic abuse or drug possession became frequent occurences. Brown continues to perform to this day.
Died: December 25, 2006

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